Multicystic and diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma in children

BACKGROUND

Malignant and multicystic peritoneal mesotheliomas are extremely rare tumors in children, developing from mesothelial cells. No specific guidelines are available at this age.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of all identified children (< 18-year-old) treated in France from 1987 to 2017 for a diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (DMPM) or a multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma (MCPM).

RESULTS

Fourteen patients (5 males and nine females), aged 2.2 to 17.5 years, were included. The most frequent presenting symptoms were abdominal pain, ascitis, and alteration in the general condition. Eight patients had epithelioid mesothelioma, three had biphasic mesothelioma, and three had MCPM. Eight patients with DMPM diagnosis received cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). Among them, six patients had neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy, one patient, post-operative chemotherapy, and one patient CRS and HIPEC only. Three patients received only systemic chemotherapy. All patients with MCPM had only surgery. After a median follow-up of seven years (2-15), six patients (6/11; one death) with DMPM and two patients (two/three) with MCPM had a local and distant recurrences.

CONCLUSION

Peritoneal mesothelioma in children is a rare condition with difficult diagnosis and high risk of recurrence. Worldwide interdisciplinary collaboration and networking are mandatory to help diagnosis and provide harmonious treatment guidelines.

Is Laparoscopic Pyeloplasty for Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction in Infants Under 1 Year of Age a Good Option?

Purpose: Laparoscopic pyeloplasty in children younger than 1 year of age is still debatable due to its supposed technical difficulties and failure rate. We present our experience and outcome in infants. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in 3 Departments of Pediatric Surgery. We reviewed the records of the children under 1 year of age operated on for ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO), between 2007 and 2017. Anderson-Hynes laparoscopic transabdominal dismembered pyeloplasty was performed. Patients' demographics, results of preoperative and postoperative exams, perioperative details, complications, hospital stay, and long-term follow-up results were analyzed. Results: Sixty cases were operated on during this period (49 boys, 11 girls). Mean age at operation was 4.5 months (1-12 months). Mean operating time was 140 min (80-240 min). There was no conversion in this group. There were four early complications: 1 ileus, 1 hypertension immediately post-operatively requiring medical treatment, 1 omental herniation through a drain orifice, and 1 percutaneous transanastomotic stent migrated intra-abdominally. The two last children had to be reoperated. Mean hospital stay was of 2 days (1-10 days). Late complications: two patients (3.4%) presented a recurrence of UPJO, one had been re-operated 15 months later and for the patient with persistent hypertension, nephropexy was performed for malrotated kidney, 1 year after pyeloplasty. Long term follow-up with a mean of 2.8 years (1-10 years) showed that surgery improved mean pelvic dilatation from 31.8 mm (13-63 mm) preoperatively to 15.3 mm (4-40 mm) postoperatively (P < 0.0001). The renal function slightly improved, from a mean of 35.7% (5-55%) it passed to 40.5% (0-54%), p = 0.137. In three cases the operated kidney became finally non-functional and atrophic. Conclusions: Laparoscopic transperitoneal pyeloplasty is feasible and safe in children younger than 1 year of age. Nevertheless, it requires experience and good intra-abdominal suturing skills. Laparoscopic pyeloplasty has a success rate comparable with open treatment but with less morbidity and better cosmetic results.

Endoscopic Excision of Forehead and Eyebrow Benign Tumors in Children

OBJECTIVE

Direct excision of dermoid cysts of the eyebrow and forehead may lead to a prominent facial scar. Endoscopic techniques have greatly reduced the morbidity of excising benign orbitofacial masses. Access, visualization, and dissection of these masses are comparable to open approaches without the use of large or conspicuous incisions. This study evaluates the efficacy of the endoscopic approach in the treatment of dermoid cysts of the eyebrow and defines the place of this approach as an alternative to open surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between July 2008 and April 2015, a total of 23 pediatric patients (13 females and 10 males) with dermoid cysts of the brow underwent excision by endoscopy. The mean age was 11.9 months (2-32 months). The lesion was located on the lateral brow in 17 cases and on the hairless forehead in 6 cases. To assess osseous involvement, sonography and magnetic resonance imaging study were performed in 22 and 1 case, respectively. Medical photos documentation was done systematically. For those children having an excision of cyst by endoscopy, the operative time, hystopathological examination, specimen size, and hospital stay were evaluated. In addition, parents of these patients were contacted to determine satisfaction with the procedure.

RESULTS

All procedures were successfully performed endoscopically. The mean operative time was 41 minutes (range 17-120 minutes). There was no intraoperative complication. The mean specimen size was 12 mm. In postoperative period, 1 patient presented edema on the forehead with uneventful course. All procedures were performed on the day-surgery. The hystopathological examinations were dermoid cysts in 21 cases, hemangioma in 1 case, and dermatofibroma in 1 case. The mean follow-up was 45.5 months (4-84 months). There was no residual mass or recurrence after long follow-up. Cosmetic results were excellent and all families were pleased with the outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic excision of forehead masses and dermoid cysts of the eyebrow is safe and it has proven to be an effective and minimally invasive alternative to the conventional approach. The main advantage of this procedure is the minimization of scar visibility compared with open surgery.